Langara mental health initiatives lead up to Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 30

Jan 25, 2019

Vancouver, BC - On January 30, 2019 Langara College will take part in Bell Let’s Talk Day. In a collaboration between Student Engagement, Athletics, People and Culture, and Mental Health Initiatives, the college will run an on-campus event that will include activities, contests, and resources tailored to educating students and employees about mental health.

“We’re very excited to be part of Bell Let’s Talk Day again and hope to make it an annual opportunity to raise awareness about services and resources on campus, reduce the stigma of mental illness and seeking help, and keep the conversation going,” said Tanya Miller, Mental Health Initiatives Consultant.

Mental health has been a priority for Langara since November 2016 when the college hosted its first Mental Health Summit in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association. The summit was the first step towards conversations envisioning what a healthy mind/healthy campus might look like.

These conversations led to the development of Langara’s first mental health framework, a commitment to invest in the mental health and well-being of the Langara community. The three-year framework is designed to promote and protect mental health and well-being from a whole campus approach, through actions and growth that will be implemented and evaluated in close partnership with students, employees, and community partners. Commitments for 2018–19 include increasing opportunities for mental health training, developing mental health literature, and fostering warm, welcoming spaces.

In November 2018, Langara became the first college in British Columbia to sign on to the Okanagan Charter, a commitment to embed mental health and well-being into all aspects of campus culture. Over 18 post-secondary institutions in Canada have adopted the Charter to promote action and collaboration, locally and globally.

Langara joins more than 340 events at 205 schools that will invite students to be part of the world’s biggest mental health conversation while learning more about resources available to them on campus.

“With more than 200 universities and colleges part of the campaign this year, it’s clear that post-secondary students in Canada have taken a real leadership role in the mental health conversation,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “These hundreds of student-led initiatives are growing awareness of both the impact of mental illness and the resources students can turn to for support, helping to ensure a psychologically healthy and safe environment on campus.”

Join in on Bell Let’s Talk Day

On January 30, Bell will donate five cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of the following interactions, at no extra cost to participants beyond what they would normally pay their service provider for online or phone access. Join in by participating through one of the ways below:

Talk: Every mobile and every long distance call made by Bell wireless and phone customers

Text: Every text message sent by Bell wireless customers

Twitter: Every tweet and retweet using #BellLetsTalk, featuring the special Bell Let’s Talk emoji, and every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at Twitter.com/Bell_LetsTalk

Facebook: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk and every use of the Bell Let’s Talk frame

Instagram: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view at Instagram.com/Bell_letstalk

Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let’s Talk filter and every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view

Total Bell Let’s Talk Day interactions since the first event in 2011 stand at 867,449,649 and are expected to exceed 1 billion on January 30. Bell’s funding commitment for mental health, including the company’s donations based on Bell Let’s Talk engagement and its original $50-million donation to launch the initiative, is now $93,423,628.80 and expected to surpass $100 million on January 30, 2019.

About Bell Let’s Talk

The Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative is focused on 4 key action pillars: Anti-stigma, Care and Access, Research and Workplace Leadership. Since its launch in September 2010, Bell Let’s Talk has partnered with more than 900 organizations providing mental health services throughout Canada, including major donations to hospitals, universities and other care and research organizations.

About LangaraLocated in beautiful Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 21,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path. Langara is also known as house of teachings, a name given to it by the Musqueam people on whose unceded traditional territory the College is located. Langara is celebrating its 49th year on West 49th Avenue with Beyond 49, an integrated celebration, alumni engagement, and fundraising campaign to reconnect with alumni, and raise funds for student support and important College initiatives.